Super Mario Bros. 3

This has to be the best of the first three Super Mario games. There are many exciting new levels and enemies. There are also all kinds of secrets in the eight levels of the game. Also, the Mario Brothers get dozens of new power ups in addition to the classic fire flower and star. It's always a challenge to play this game. It's been over a decade since this game came out and it's still one of the best games ever. Track down a copy of this classic!

Super Mario Bros. 3 isn't just a sequel-it's a total reinvention of what a Mario game could be. Bigger, bolder, and packed with ideas, it expanded the series in almost every direction. New power-ups, themed worlds, hidden secrets-it was ambitious for 1990, and in many ways, still holds up incredibly well today.

Chapter 1: A World of Imagination

From the moment the curtain rises on the opening screen, SMB3 plays like a stage show of Mario's greatest adventures. Each world has its own theme-deserts, giant lands, icy peaks-and each level within them offers new mechanics or enemies. The variety here is honestly staggering. You can tell Nintendo was bursting with ideas.

The introduction of the overworld map was a game-changer. For the first time, you had choice in how to move through levels, find secrets, or skip ahead using warp whistles. It gave a real sense of progression and strategy without bogging things down.

Chapter 2: Power-Ups and Personality

The new suits-Raccoon, Frog, Tanooki, and Hammer Bros.-add real variety to the gameplay. Flying across levels, swimming with precision, or even turning into a statue to avoid enemies? It was imaginative and opened the door to experimentation. It made every item block feel like a potential game-changer.

And yet, the game doesn't rely on power-ups alone. The level design itself is sharp and often surprising. There's a real rhythm to how the game teaches you, tests you, and then twists what you thought you knew.

Chapter 3: Not Quite Perfect

While it's undeniably one of the best NES games ever made, it's not flawless. The difficulty spikes hard in the later worlds, and some stages can feel unfair, especially when you're low on power-ups. The save system (or lack thereof, originally) could make longer sessions a bit frustrating. And with so many one-hit-death moments, the game occasionally feels more punishing than rewarding.

Final Thoughts

Still, those nitpicks are small compared to how innovative, colorful, and replayable Super Mario Bros. 3 is. It set the standard for 2D platformers and remains a nostalgic masterpiece for a reason.

8/10 - A brilliant, endlessly creative game that pushed the NES to its limits. A true classic, even if it occasionally bites back.

Super Mario Bros. 3 is certainly an impressive game for 1988 standards and holds up as an innovative platformer even today. The graphics, level design and gameplay make for a truly great playing experience.

I never did finish the first Super Mario Bros. (as of yet) and I've never even played Super Mario Bros. 2 but now, after liking this so much, I will seriously have to consider it.

In terms of originality you won't find anything particularly amazing about the jumping of one platform to the next and collecting power-ups but it's how it all comes together and works so well that makes SMB3 stand out from the rest of the competition.

Some levels are tough, but stick at them and you'll memorise and master the tricky bits pretty quickly. However, that didn't stop me from crying out loud in sheer, hopeless frustration every now and again.

The GBA version adds a save function (a godsend for those who hate having to spend 86 hours finishing a game in one go), slightly tweaked levels and compatibility with the Nintendo E-Reader that offers bonus levels.

Considering how good this game is it's no wonder Sonic had such tough competition from a short, fat Italian plumber. Definitely one to hunt down.

Graphics A Sound B (only because the famous Super Mario music is not featured) Gameplay A Lasting Appeal A

I grew up with Nintendo so though it's no longer something I play I will always have a soft spot for it. Super Mario Bros (1985) was a classic platformer and very enjoyable, Super Mario Bros 2 (1988) almost put me off the franchise altogether and I simply didn't enjoy it, Super Mario Bros 3 was a masterpiece I'll never forget.

For a start the game is considerably larger than most that were around at this time, it's a title you need to put plenty of hours into and even then you'll likely not see everything.

With a lot of new mechanics not seen before in a Mario game it added to the dynamic instead of overly convoluting a classic formula like its predecessor did. Mario has multiple suits that assist him in his adventure, the game adds a wealth of fantastic enemies and memorable boss encounters.

Arguably SMB3 is one of the greatest platform games ever made and is a near perfect title that was only followed successfully by them once in this guys opinion. Then it went 3D and it all went downhill from there.

Super Mario Bros.3 is one of those few games that lives with me and I'll never forget yet will happily pick it up any chance I get. Near flawless.

The Good:

Huge advancements from the previous titles

Lots of content

Everything is so very likeable

The Bad:

Whistles are an unnecessary cheatmode

When I was a young teenager my best friend had an NES, and we used to play this game all the time. It's almost certainly the best Mario game, if not of all platforms than definitely NES. It makes up for the US release of "Mario 2" (which was a stinker) and the gameplay is fantastic -- one player is addictive, fun and well designed with worthy baddies. The two-player is just as enjoyable and chances are you'll lose yourself playing the game.

Nowadays it's kinda hard to find this game although it might be available on Gameboy. If you do happen to come across it I definitely recommend it -- it's a very entertaining, involving game and one of the all-time best for the NES and has created a lasting legacy. When people think of the familiar traits of what Mario is today -- the mushrooms, the caps, the levels, the enemies, Bowser -- it all really started with this.

Very highly recommended.